Latch for automatic gates



Dec. 31, 1957 .1. D. KILLOUGH 2,818,294

LATCH FOR AUTOMATIC GATES Filed A ril 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. z/fld'K 47, X/AAOOG W Dec. 31, 1957 J. D. KILLOUGH 2,818,294

LATCH FOR AUTOMATIC GATES Filed April 14, 1955 2 Sh'G'St'S-Sht 2 INVENTOR. wax 0. 4044004 W s im hired States Patent LATCH FOR AUTOMATIC GATES Jack D. Killough, Adamsville, Ala.

Application April 14, 1955, Serial No. 501,410 7 Claims. (Cl. 292341.17)

This invention relates to a latch for automatic gates, such as gates constructed and arranged to be swung in either direction toward open position and then swing by gravity toward closed position.

An object of my invention is toprovide a latch for automatic gates which shall include pivotally mounted latch pin keepers which move about their pivot points out of the path of the latch pin as the gate is moved toward closed position and which includes means limiting rotation of the keepers in the opposite direction, whereby the keepers hold the gate in latched position until sufiicient force is exerted to move the latch pin up over the keeper toward open position.

Another object of my invention is to provide a latch for automatic gates of the character designated which shall include improved means restraining movement of the latch pin after it has passed over the adjacent keeper and prior to its contact with the other keeper.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch of the character designated which shall include latch pin keepers mounted for pivotal movement at opposite ends of the latch and balanced for the upper ends of the keepers normally to extend upwardly and inwardly of their pivot points.

Briefly, my improved latch comprises a stationary horizontal member over which the latch pin passes when the gate is closed. Elongated latch pin keepers are mounted for pivotal movement intermediate their ends at opposite ends of the horizontal member, the centers of mass of the keepers being below the pivot points of the keepers and below the horizontal member in position to balance the keepers, whereby, their upper ends normally extend upwardly and inwardly of the pivot points. Stop members are mounted on the lower ends of the keepers in position to engage the undersurface of the horizontal member, thus limiting rotation of the keepers as the latch pin engages the same when moving toward open position.

A latch embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational View showing my improved latch associated with an automatic gate;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the latch taken generally along the line II-II of Fig. l with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the latch shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of latch.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show an automatic gate 10, the construction and operation of which is described in Patent No. 2,702,399 issued to Thomas I. Pinion and myself, dated February 22, 1955 and entitled, Gate Hinge. The gate 10 is so constructed that it is adapted to be'pushed open by a vehicle and then automatically closes itself after the vehicle has passed through and cleared the same. As shown in Fig. 1, the gate 10 is hinged to a vertical post 11 and mounted adjacent the free end of the gate is a vertical post 12. Secured to the swinging end of the gate 10 and projecting outwardly therefrom is a hinge pin 13 having a suitable roller 14 mounted for rotation thereon.

Mounted on the post 12 by any suitable means, such as by welding at 16, is an L-shaped bracket 17 having a vertical leg 18 and a horizontal leg 19. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the horizontal leg 19 is in position for the roller 14 to pass over the same when the gate is in closed position.

Mounted for pivotal movement on hinge pins 21 and 22 at opposite ends of the horizontal leg 19 are elongated latch pin keepers 23 and 24, respectively. The horizontal leg 19 is provided with longitudinally extending slots 26 and 27 at opposite ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4-. The slots 26 and 27 are of a length and width to receive the upper ends of the latch pin keepers 23 and 24, respectively. The centers of mass of the keepers 23 and 24 are below the pivot points thereof and below the horizontal leg 19 in position to balance the keepers whereby their upper ends normally extend upwardly and inwardly of the pivot points, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

Mounted on the lower ends of the latch pin keepers 23 and 24 are cross members 28 and 29, respectively. The cross members 28 and 29 are of a length to engage the undersurface of the horizontal leg 19 as the lower ends of the keepers move upwardly and inwardly of their pivot points, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The latch pin keepers are thereby held against further movement as the latch pin 13 moves outwardly against the same.

Secured to the upper surface of the horizontal leg 19 intermediate the latch pin keepers 23 and 24 is an upstanding projection 31 which preferably is provided with a curved upper surface, as shown. Mounted on the vertical leg 18 of the bracket 17 above the projection 31 and projecting outwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the horizontal leg 19 is an abutment 32 which is preferably in the form of a round bar. The distance between the upper surface of the projection 31 and the abutment 32 is slightly greater than the diameter of the roller 14 of the hinge pin, whereby the roller can pass therebetween. Secured to the upper surface of the abutment 32 and to the vertical leg 18 by any suitable means such as by welding, is a brace member 33 which reinforces the abutment 32.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved latch shown in Figs. 1 to 4 will be readily understood. As the gate is pushed open, such as by pushing against the same with the bumper of a vehicle, the latch pin engages the latch pin keeper on the side thereof toward which the gate is moved, thus causing the keeper to move about its pivot point to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position, the cross member 28 or 29, as the case may be, engages the undersurface of the horizontal leg 19 thereby preventing further movement of the keeper. The latch pin is then forced up over the upper sloping end of the keeper whereby the gate is moved to open position. After the vehicle has cleared the gate, the gate moves by gravity toward closed position whereupon the latch pin engages the upper end of the adjacent keeper thus moving it to a position parallel to the horizontal leg 19. In this position, the upper end of the keeper is within the slot 26 or 27, as the case may be. The latch pin then engages the projection 31 and is deflected upwardly against the abutment 32 and then falls on the opposite side of the projection 31, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The abutment 32 serves as a stop member to assure that the latch pin stops intermediate the latch pin keepers.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings, I show a modified form of latch comprising an L-shaped bracket al leg 18a and a horizontal leg 19a. 1 movement on hinge pins 21a and s of the horizontal leg 19a are latch I 24a, respectively. The lower ends pers 23a and 24:: are provided with portions 34 and 36, respectively. 1' ends of the portions 34 and 36 are cured thereto round cros bars 37 The centers of mass of the keepers low the pivot points thereof in poe keepers whereby their upper ends wardly and inwardly of the pivot ull lines in Fig. 5.

ntral portion of the vertical leg 18:! dly toward the gate is an abutment and outwardly flaring lower surfaces 11. The distance between the lower t 39 and the horizontal leg 19a is the'diarneter of the roller M wheres therebetween.

my latch shown in Fig. is similar shown in Figs. 1 to 4. As the gate latch pin engages the keeper on the which the gate is moved, thus causove about its pivot point to dotted The cross bars 37 or 33, as the I gage the under surface of the horiby preventing further movement of ch pin is then forced up over the position. After the gate has been 11, it moves by gravity toward closed he latch pin engages the upper end r and moves it to dotted line posieeper in this position, the latch pin and strikes the abutment 39 and is into contact with the upper surface 19a, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 thus serves as a stop to retard h pin intermediate the keepers.

1 it will be seen that I have devised r automatic gates which is simple ".omical of manufacture and one operation to lock the latch pin in pin keepers until sufiicient force is ame up over the sloping upper end al practice I have found that my er is satisfactory in every respect a minimum of time on automatic gravity after the same have been n my invention in but two forms, those skilled in the art that it is usceptible of various other changes out departing from the spirit thereore, that only such limitations shall as are specifically set forth in the ertically movable and horizontally a latch pin projecting outwardly reof, a stationary horizontal mem- 1 pin passes when the gate is closed, epers mounted for pivotal moveir ends adjacent opposite ends of r with the centers of mass of the votal connections to said horizonto balance the keepers whereby ally extend upwardly and inwardthere being longitudinally extendnds of said horizontal member of n receive the upper ends of said ers are rotated in one direction, ds are adapted to move substanorizontal member, and stop means 4 on the lower ends of said keepers disposed to engage the undersurface of said horizontal member and limit rotation of said keepers when rotated in the other direction.

2. As an article of manufacture, a gate latch element comprising a horizontal plate-like member, elongated latch pin keepers mounted for pivotal movement intermediate their ends adjacent opposite ends of said horizontal member with the centers of mass of the keepers below their pivotal connections to said horizontal memher, there being longitudinally extending slots at opposite ends of said horizontal member of a length and width to receive the entire upper ends of said keepers when the keepers are rotated in one direction, whereby said upper ends are adapted to move below the upper surface of said horizontal member, and stop means on the lower ends of said keepers disposed to engage the under surface of. said horizo'ntal member and limit rotation of said keepers when rotated in the other direction.

3. In a latch for a vertically movable and horizontally swinging gatehavi'ng a latch pin projecting outwardly of the swinging end thereof, a stationary horizontal member over which the latch pin passes when the gate is closed thereby to admit the latch pin into the latch, elongated latch pin keepers mounted for free swinging pivotal movement intermediate their ends adjacent opposite ends of said horizontal member with the centers of mass of the keepers below their pivotal connections to said horizontal member, the upper ends of said keepers being disposed to move into engagement with and parallel to the upper surface of said horizontal member when the keepers are rotated in latch pin admitting direction, and stop means on the lower ends of said keepers disposed to engage the under surface of said horizontal member and limit rotation of the free swinging keepers when rotated in latch pin releasing direction.

4. A latch as defined in claim 3 in which an abutment having upwardly and outwardly flaring lower surfaces is mounted above the central portion of the horizontal member, the lower end of said abutment being spaced from said horizontal member a distance to permit free passage of the latch pin therebetween.

5. A .latch as defined in claim 3 in which said stop means on the lower ends of the keepers comprise inwardly extending projections which are in position for the inner ends of said projections to engage the under surface of the horizontal member.

6. As an article of manufacture, a gate latch element comprising a horizontal member, elongated latch pin keepers mounted adjacent opposite ends of the horizontal member for pivotal movement with their upper ends disposed above the top of said horizontal member and with the centers of mass of said keepers below their pivotal connections to said horizontal member, and inwardly extending projections at the lower ends of said keepers defining stops disposed to engage the under surface of the horizontal member and limit rotation of the keepers.

7. As an article of manufacture, a gate latch element comprising an L-shaped bracket having a vertical and a horizontal leg, elongated latch pin keepers mounted for pivotal movement intermediate their ends adjacent opposite ends of said horizontal leg with the centers of mass of said keepers below their pivotal connections to said horizontal member, the upper ends of said keepers extending above the top of the horizontal member whereby a moving latch pin lowers the upper end of said keeper located on the side from which the pin approaches and raises the upper end of the other thereof upon con tinued movement across the horizontal member, inward- 1y extending stop members at the lower ends of said keepers disposed to engage the under surface of the horizontal leg and limit rotation thereof, and an inward- 1y extending stationary abutment above the central portion of said horizontal leg and having upwardly and outwardly flaring under surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Barr July 4, Setbacken Dec. 2, Hynding July 7, Longenecker May 16, Leake Nov. 2, 

